U.S. patent number 6,558,199 [Application Number 09/886,316] was granted by the patent office on 2003-05-06 for connector device for card with a plurality of connection terminals different in length.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Alps Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wataru Oguchi.
United States Patent |
6,558,199 |
Oguchi |
May 6, 2003 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Connector device for card with a plurality of connection terminals
different in length
Abstract
According to the present invention, provided is a card connector
device in which supporting positions of the individual connection
terminals with respect to a header are formed on a straight line
without being shifted forward and backward and rigidity of the
respective supporting portions of the individual connection
terminals increases as the length to the contact portion increases,
so that the contact pressure of the respective connection terminals
is uniform and the miniaturization of the whole connector device
can be accomplished. The card connector device comprises a header
provided side by side with a plurality of connection terminals made
of electrically conductive metal plate; and a frame, at one end of
which the header is arranged and into which is fitted a card with a
plurality of contacts capable of being connected to the connection
terminals, wherein the connection terminals are provided with a
supporting portion supported by the header and a contact portion
elastically contacted with the corresponding contact of the card at
a free end extended from the supporting portion, and wherein the
connection terminals are formed so that the supporting portions are
positioned side by side on a same straight line having a direction
perpendicular to a card-inserting direction. The length from the
supporting portions to the contact portions differs and, at the
same time, as the length from the supporting portion to the contact
portion increases, rigidity of the supporting portion
increases.
Inventors: |
Oguchi; Wataru (Miyagi-ken,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
18706927 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/886,316 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2001 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 6, 2000 [JP] |
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2000-210698 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/630; 439/910;
439/924.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
12/721 (20130101); Y10S 439/91 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B42D
15/10 (20060101); G06K 13/02 (20060101); G06K
17/00 (20060101); G06K 13/08 (20060101); G06K
7/00 (20060101); H01R 12/16 (20060101); H01R
12/00 (20060101); H01R 12/18 (20060101); H01R
13/64 (20060101); H01R 24/00 (20060101); H01R
024/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/630,60,924.1,607,637 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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100 46 638 |
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May 2001 |
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DE |
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0 883 084 |
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Dec 1998 |
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EP |
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0908981 |
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Apr 1999 |
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EP |
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WO 0135333 |
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May 2001 |
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WO |
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Other References
European Search Report, dated Jul. 31, 2002. .
European Search Report, dated Oct. 22, 2001..
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Primary Examiner: Nasri; Javaid
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Beyer Weaver & Thomas, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A card connector device, comprising: a frame into which a card
with a plurality of contacts is inserted; a header formed at one
end of said frame having a plurality of side by side connection
terminals made of electrically conductive metal plate in a
cantilevered state; wherein said connection terminals are provided
with supporting portions supplied by said header and contact
portions elastically contacted at free ends extended from said
supporting portions with corresponding contacts of said card;
wherein said connection terminals are so formed that said
supporting portions are provided side by side on a straight line
having a direction perpendicular to a card-inserting direction;
wherein lengths from said supporting portions to said contact
portions vary; and wherein as the length from said supporting
portion to said contact portion increases, the rigidity of said
supporting portion increases in such a way that the contact
pressures of said contact portions against said contacts are
substantially uniform; and an electrically conductive cover formed
to cover said header and part of the card when the card is inserted
into said electrically conductive cover with a plurality of window
holes, wherein each window hole of the plurality of window holes
faces a free end of the free ends of said connection terminals.
2. A card connector device according to claim 1, wherein each of
said connection terminals increases a width of said supporting
portion as the length from said supporting portion to said contact
portion increases to cause the contact pressures of said contact
portions against said contacts to be substantially uniform.
3. A card connector device according to claim 2, wherein an end
portion of each of said connection terminals opposite to said
contact portions becomes a solder portion projected from said
header in a forward direction and formed and soldered to a circuit
board, wherein said solder portion of the connection terminal
having a width of said supporting portion formed wide in
correspondence with a length from said supporting portion to said
contact portion is made narrower than that of said supporting
portion, and wherein spaces between each of said adjoining solder
portions are set equal to each other.
4. A card connector device according to claim 1, further comprising
solder portions provided on said connection terminals that project
from a front side of said header to be soldered to a circuit
board.
5. A card connector device according to claim 1, wherein said
connection terminals are integrally molded in said header through
said supporting portion.
6. A card connector device according to claim 1, wherein as the
length from said supporting portion to said contact portion
increases, a thickness of said metal plate forming said supporting
portion of said connection terminal increases.
7. A card connector device according to claim 1 further comprising
reinforcing ribs selectively formed on said supporting portions for
increasing the rigidity of said supporting portions.
8. A card connector device according to claim 1, wherein lengths
extending from said supporting portions of said respective
connection terminals to said contact portions are formed into three
types of length, and wherein when said card is inserted and fitted,
the connection terminal having the longest length from said
supporting portion to said contact portion foremost contacts the
contacts of said card as well as the connection terminal having the
shortest length from said supporting portion to said contact
portion lastly contacts said contacts.
9. A card connector device according to claim 1, wherein lengths
extending from said supporting portions of each of said connection
terminals to said contact portions are formed into three types of
length, wherein in correspondence with this, widths of said
respective supporting portions have three types of width, and
wherein when said card is inserted and fitted, the connection
terminal having the longest length from said supporting portion to
said contact portion foremost contacts the contacts of said card as
well as the connection terminal having the shortest length from
said supporting portion to said contact portion lastly contacts
said contacts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card connector device utilized
with an Integrated Circuit (IC) card used, for example, as a memory
medium in a personal computer or with a Multi Media Card (MMC) used
in electronic equipment and the like such as a digital camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
IC card connector devices are generally used as a recording device
additionally installed in personal computers and the like. The IC
card has been widely used as the memory medium of an IC card
connector device.
The IC card is fitted into the IC card connector device to carry
out the writing and reading of necessary information. A plurality
of contacts are provided in the IC card and a header in the IC card
connector device is provided with connection terminals having a
plurality of contact portions corresponding to arrangement
positions of the plurality of contacts provided in the IC card.
Also, in the header, a plurality of solder portions soldered to a
circuit pattern portion of a circuit board to which the IC card
connector device is adhered, are formed and projected, and the
contact portions and the respective solder portions become
electrically connected within the header.
Also, among IC cards, there are IC cards in which, in order to
prevent the destruction of an internal IC circuit of the IC card
due to an inrush current and the like when being connected to
connection terminals, a connection sequence with the corresponding
connection terminals is prescribed. In general, a method for
prescribing the connection sequence is carried out by differing the
positions where the contact portions of the connection terminals on
the IC card connector device connect with the corresponding
contacts on the IC card.
In order to differ the connecting positions of the contact portions
of the connection terminals with the corresponding contacts on the
IC card, respective positions of the connection terminals with
respect to the header on the IC card connector are suitably shifted
forward and backward in the IC card-inserting direction.
However, in the structure of the header of the conventional IC card
connector device described above, there is a problem in that the
length of the supporting portion of the connection terminal of the
header increases due to this forward and backward shifting of the
connection terminals in the IC card inserting direction. Thus,
miniaturization of the whole connector device cannot be
accomplished.
Also, in order to adjust the positions of the respective connection
terminals without shifting forward and backward, there is a method
of differing the lengths from the supporting portions of the
connection terminals to the contact portions. But this method has a
problem in that contact pressures on the contacts of the IC card
can change according to the lengths from the supporting portions of
the connection terminals.
Therefore, the present invention is made in order to solve the
above problems, and thus an object of the present invention is to
provide a card connector device in which supporting positions of
the plurality of connection terminals with respect to the header
are formed on the same straight line without being shifted forward
and backward and in which the rigidity of the respective supporting
portions increases as the length from the supporting portions of
the connection terminals gets longer, so that the contact pressures
of the connection terminals are uniform and miniaturization of the
whole connector device can be accomplished.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first means for solving the above problems according to the
present invention, a card connector device comprises: a header
provided side by side with a plurality of connection terminals made
of electrically conductive metal plate; and a frame in which the
header is arranged at one end thereof and into which is fitted a
card with a plurality of contacts capable of electrical connection
to corresponding connection terminals. The connection terminals are
provided with a supporting portion supported by the header and a
contact portion elastically contacted with corresponding contacts
of the card at a free end extended from the supporting portion,
wherein the connection terminals are formed so that the supporting
portions are positioned side by side on a straight line in the
direction perpendicular to a card-inserting direction. The lengths
from the supporting portions to the contact portions differ and, at
the same time, as the length from the supporting portion to the
contact portion increases, the rigidity of the supporting portion
increases.
Also, in a second means according to the present invention, the
connection terminals are formed so that the supporting portions are
positioned side by side on a straight line in a direction
perpendicular to a card-inserting direction. The lengths from said
supporting portions to contact portions differ and at the same
time, as the length from the supporting portion to the contact
portion increases, the width of the supporting portion
increases.
Also, in a third means according to the present invention, the
header is arranged at a front end in the card-inserting direction
of the frame and the connection terminals are provided with solder
portions which are projected from the front side of the header to
be soldered to a circuit board.
Also, in a fourth means according to the present invention, the
connection terminals are integrally molded in the header through
the supporting portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above objects, other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be better understood from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a card connector device according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the card connector device according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the card connector device according
to an embodiment the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a header of the card
connector device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an IC card according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state that the IC card is fitted
into the card connector device according to the present
invention;
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state that the
IC card is fitted into the card connector device according to the
present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an initial state
during the IC card is inserted into the card connector device
according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a partial view of an embodiment showing reinforcing ribs
on contacts of different lengths with the same widths.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained based
on examples with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. 1 is a plan view
of a card connector device, FIG. 2 is a side view of the card
connector device, FIG. 3 is a front view of the card connector
device, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a header, FIG. 5 is a plan view of
an IC card, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a set-in state of the IC
card, FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the set-in
state of the IC card, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing
an initial inserting state of the IC card.
In the drawings, a frame 1 is made of insulating material such as
synthetic resins and the like and is formed in a box shape of which
a top surface and a front surface are opened. At the center of the
frame 1, a receiving portion 1a is formed into which IC card 5, to
be described later, is fitted, and at the opposite front end of
frame 1, a header 3 is provided for retaining a plurality of
connection terminals 2 made of electrically conductive metal plate
and placed side by side across the header 3. The header 3 is
integrally formed with the frame 1. However, they may be formed
separately and engage with each other to form an integral body.
Also, at the opposite front end surface and the side end surface of
the frame 1, engagement projections 1b for engaging with a cover
member 4, to be described later, are formed.
Supporting portions 2a are integrally molded in the header 3 by
methods such as insert molding and the like to support the
connection terminals 2. Also, at one end of the connection
terminals 2, solder portions 2b, which project from the header 3
toward the outside of the frame 1 to be soldered to circuit
patterns of a circuit board installed in electronic equipment and
the like (Not Shown), are provided. At the free ends, i.e., the
ends opposite the solder portions 2b, contact portions 2c connect
to contacts 5a of the IC card 5, to be described later. The solder
portions 2b and the contact portions 2c are electrically connected
through the supporting portions 2a within the header 3.
Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the connection terminals 2 are supported
by the header 3 such that the supporting portions 2a are formed
side by side on the same straight line having a direction
perpendicular to the inserting direction of the IC card 5, while
the lengths from the supporting portions 2a to the contact portions
2c are varied, so that they are suitable for the purposes of the
present invention. That is, a connection terminal 2D formed to be
shortest (shown as L1) and positioned at the left end side, a
connection terminal 2E formed to be intermediate in length (shown
as L2) than the connection terminal 2D and a connection terminal 2F
formed to be longest (shown as L3) and positioned at the center
side are formed.
Also, in the connection terminals 2, the width of the supporting
portions 2a are suitably formed so that as the lengths from the
supporting portions 2a to the contact portions 2c get longer,
rigidity of the supporting portions 2a increases and that as the
lengths from the supporting portions 2a to the contact portions 2c
provided on the free end side get longer, the widths of the
supporting portions 2a get wider. That is, a width (W2) of a
supporting portion 2Ea of the intermediate length (L2) connection
terminal 2E is formed to be wider than a width (W1) of a supporting
portion 2Da of the shortest (L1) connection terminal 2D, and is
formed to be narrower than a width (W3) of a supporting portion 2Fa
of the longest (L3) connection terminal 2F.
By means of the above construction, a connection sequence for the
various connection terminals 2 can be obtained with a simple
structure. The connecting positions can be set differently when the
contacts 5a of IC card 5 are connected with the corresponding
contact portions 2c of the connection terminals 2.
Also, it is not necessary to shift the positions of the supporting
portions 2a for supporting the connection terminals 2 on the header
3. The lengths of the supporting portions 2a of the connection
terminals 2 remains constant. Because the widths (W1<W2<W3)
of the supporting portions 2a are formed wider as the lengths
(L1<L2<L3) from the supporting portions 2a to the contact
portions 2c increases, the respective connection terminals 2D, 2E,
2F do not have non-uniform contact pressures due to variations in
length. By suitably varying the widths of the supporting portions
2a, the contact pressures of the respective contact portions 2Dc,
2Ec, 2Fc can be made uniform and the header 3 can be formed small,
thereby accomplishing miniaturization of the connector device.
In the above embodiment, the supporting portions 2c are so formed
that as the length from the supporting portions 2a of the
connection terminals 2 to the contact portions 2c gets longer, its
respective width increases. However, as described above, it is
preferable that as the length from the supporting portions 2a to
the contact portions 2c gets longer, rigidity of the supporting
portions 2a increases. For this purpose, in one embodiment of the
present invention, as the length from the supporting portions 2a to
the contact portions 2c increases, the plate thickness of metal
material of the connection terminals forming the supporting
portions 2a the connection terminals 2 becomes thicker. In another
embodiment, using the same plate thickness of the metal material,
rigidifying reinforcing ribs may be formed on the supporting
portions 2a by methods such as a press process and the like.
In these embodiments, the width of the supporting portions 2a is
not changed. If the widths are the same, in order to increase
rigidity of the supporting portions 2a, when the thickness of metal
material plate is changed, the rigidity increases as the plate gets
thicker, and when the thickness is the same, the rigidity increases
with an increased number of the reinforcing ribs or by enlarging
the dimensions of the ribs. These embodiments of the present
invention provide the same advantages as the first embodiment
described above, wherein the width of supporting portions 2a is
varied to control rigidity.
The cover member 4 is formed in a U-shape and is made of
electrically conductive material and consists of a top plate 4a
having a flat shape, side plates 4b facing each other, and a front
plate 4c. A plurality of window holes 4dis provided in the top
plate 4a. The free ends of the connection terminals 2 are arranged
to face the window holes 4d. To obtain deflection of the free ends
for adequate elastic force, when the connection terminals 2 are
bent by insertion of IC card 5, to be described later, the fronts
of the free ends project from the window holes 4d.
Also, the cover member 4 is engaged on the frame 1 to cover the
receiving portions 1a of the frame 1 and the connection terminals
2. In the side plates 4b and the front plate 4c, engagement holes
4e are formed for engaging with the corresponding engagement
projections 1b provided in the front end surface and the side end
surfaces of the frame 1. Also, in the side plates 4b, ground
terminals 4f are provided that electrically shield the IC card and
the card connector device when connected to electrical ground
patterns of a circuit board installed in electronic equipment and
the like (Not Shown).
As shown if FIG. 5, the IC card 5 containing an integrated circuit
(IC) is widely used as a recording medium. On one surface side of
the IC card 5, a plurality of contacts 5a is formed at an end
thereof. The contacts 5a are received in the receiving portion 1a
of the frame 1. By electrically contacting the contact portions 2c
of the plurality of connection terminals 2 arranged in the header
3, various information processing can be carried out with outside
electronic equipment connected to terminals 2.
Also, in the IC card 5, a recess portion 5b of a sloped surface
shape is provided on one corner of IC card 5 nearest the contacts
5a. By engaging a slide member (Not Shown) on the recess portion
5b, the IC card 5 is fitted into the frame 1 through the slide
member and is held in the fitted position by a lock member (Not
Shown).
Next, the structure of the connection sequence of the respective
connection terminals 2 in the above embodiment will be explained
with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8.
First, when the IC card 5 is inserted into the receiving portion 1a
of the frame 1, because the contacts 5a of the IC card 5 are
aligned side by side on a straight line perpendicular to the
inserting direction of the IC card 5, the corresponding contacts 5a
are first connected to the longest (L3) connection terminal 2F
among the connection terminals 2. In this position, the other
contacts 5a of the IC card 5 are in a non-connected state.
In this state, because load current such as an inrush current and
the like from the connection terminal 2F is designed not to flow to
the input side of a microcomputer and the like built in the IC card
5, the destruction of the IC card 5 due to this inrush current can
be prevented.
From this state, when the IC card 5 is pressed further in the
inserting direction, successive to the connection of terminal 2F,
the next longest (L2) connection terminal 2E is connected to
corresponding contacts 5a in the non-connected state. At that time,
since a current is already supplied through the connection terminal
2F to the main circuit portion of the IC card 5, the circuit is in
a driving state and a new inrush current is not generated. Because
steady and constant current flows on the input side of
microcomputer and the like, the concern for destroying the
connected IC card 5 has been eliminated.
Also, when the IC card 5 is inserted to the fully fitted position,
successive to the connection of terminal 2E, the shortest
connection terminal 2D and the last corresponding contacts 5a are
connected to each other, and the connection of the IC card 5 and
the corresponding connection terminals 2 are completed.
In this case, the connection terminals 2 are formed so that the
lengths from the supporting portions 2a to the contact portions 2c
are different. As the length from the supporting portion 2a to the
contact portion 2c gets longer, the width of the respective
supporting portion 2a gets wider, whereby the respective contact
pressure of the contact portion 2Dc, 2Ec, 2Fc of the connection
terminals 2D, 2E, 2F with corresponding contacts 5a is uniform. The
connection terminals 2D, 2E, 2F are connected to their respective
contacts 5a in a stable state with the same contact pressure.
According to the above embodiment, the connection terminals 2 and
the corresponding contacts 5a of the IC card 5 are connected to
each other always in the stable state without having variation of
contact pressure. When the contact portions 2c of the connection
terminals 2 are connected to the corresponding contacts 5a of the
IC card 5, the connecting position of the contacts 5a and the
contact portions 2c of the connection terminals 2 can be suitably
varied and thus a prescribed connection sequence of the IC card can
be achieved with a simple structure.
As explained above, the card connector device according to the
present invention comprises a header provided with a plurality of
side by side connection terminals made of an electrically
conductive metal plate and a frame in which the header is arranged
at one end thereof and in which a card with a plurality of contacts
capable of being connected to the connection terminals is fitted,
wherein the connection terminals are provided with supporting
portions supported by the header and contact portions elastically
contacted with corresponding contacts of the card at free ends
extended from the supporting portions, wherein the connection
terminals are so formed that the supporting portions are provided
side by side on a straight line having a direction perpendicular to
a card-inserting direction, and wherein the lengths from the
supporting portions to the contact portions vary, and that as the
lengths from the supporting portion to the contact portion gets
longer, rigidity of the supporting portion increases. Therefore, it
does not occur that the contact pressures are non-uniform according
to the length of the respective connection terminals, and thus the
contact pressures of the respective contact portions can be made
the same. The present invention provides a card connector device
with a prescribed connection sequence for connection of the IC
card.
Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the connection
terminals are so formed that the supporting portions are provided
side by side on a straight line having a direction perpendicular to
a card-inserting direction, wherein the lengths from the supporting
portions to the contact portions vary, and wherein, as the lengths
from the supporting portion to the contact portion gets longer, the
width of the supporting portion increases. Therefore, like the
above, it does not occur that the contact pressures are non-uniform
according to the length of the respective connection terminals and
thus the contact pressures of the respective contact portions can
be made the same. This embodiment of the present invention provides
a card connector device with a prescribed connection sequence for
connection of the IC card within a simple structure.
Also, the header is arranged at a front end in the card-inserting
direction of the frame and the connection terminals are provided
with solder portions to be soldered to a circuit board that project
from a front side of the header. Therefore, the terminal supporting
portions of the connection terminals in the header can be formed
small, thereby accomplishing the miniaturization of the whole
connector device.
Also, the connection terminals are integrally molded in the header
through the supporting portion, and thus it is ensured that the
supporting portions are supported by the header, thereby providing
a stable pressure on the contact portions.
Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is
limited only to the accompanying claims and the equivalents
thereof, and includes the aforementioned modifications, additions,
and substitutions.
* * * * *